All singers and musicians are invited to join in this year’s Misa Campesina on Sunday 4.6. at 11:15 am . We are now able to confirm the rehearsal times.
Two rehearsals will take place at the Quaker Meeting House in St. Giles:
Saturday 27.5.
Saturday 3.6.
each from 10 am till noon.
Exciting news: we can now confirm that the Nicaraguan folk mass, the Misa Campesina will be sung again this year – as it was for many years until 2019. It is scheduled for
Sunday 4th of June
There will be two rehearsals on the two Saturdays before the event, ie May 27 and June 3.
All singers and instrumentalists welcome to join the fun. The music is fun and easy to play, and there are a couple of very experienced people on hand who have done it many times before.
Email Jen Houston (jen_houston AT hotmail DOT com) for details or watch this space. We will confirm precise rehearsal place and times closer to the time.
Dear Members and Supporters, ¡Feliz Año Nuevo a todos! The next meeting of the Oxford León Association is on Tuesday 24 January at 7 pm at the Town Hall and for those who can’t get to the Town Hall, and on Zoom, details have been emailed out, contact any member if you haven’t received them.We will be looking at how the last year has gone and how to maintain links with León, raise our profile and future fund raising and will elect officers for the coming year. We also hope to have the Misa Campesina later in the year. After due business we will have a short talk by Martin Roger of NECAT about his trip to Nicaragua at the end of last year. We will also hear from Christian who has recently returned from León. We look forward to seeing you on 24 January, all are welcome!
During the seasonal lights festival on Friday 18.11. there will be a mulled wine stall on Bonn Square where you can meet people from all the international links including the Oxford Leon Association. We’ll be there from 4:30 to 9 am.
I’m afraid we’re not listed on the official page of the lights festival, but I’m putting the link to facilitate planning the evening …
The next meeting of the Oxford León Association is on Tuesday 6 September at 7.00 at Oxford Town Hall. You will also be able to join us online via Zoom, email Jen for details.
There is a lot going on with Twinning in the autumn. There is an opportunity for all the links to tell Oxford all about Twinning at an event at the Sheldonian Theatre on Saturday 1 October, 10 am to 4 pm. We need OLAT to be represented.
Then on Wednesday 5 October there is Oxford’s UN Older People’s Day at the Town Hall, with a stall from OLAT.
OCC are also asking for people to contribute to a video about the impact that Twinning has had on their lives: “We are looking for people that have taken part in a visit to Oxford, or one Oxford’s twin cities and the impact it has had on their lives – has it changed their career choices, has it opened up further opportunities, have they learned a new language or skill or made new friends?” Please contact me if you would like to take part – it would be good to hear from people whose experience goes back to the old days of OLAT!
We were very pleased to be back with the Sponsored Swim on 15 July – some money is still coming in, we will let you know how much was donated soon. We are hoping to hold the Misa Campesina in October/November at Blackfriars.
Thank you for your continued support over these continuing difficult times.
Dear Oxford León Association Members and Supporters and Swimmers and Helpers and all interested in raising urgently needed funds for water and social projects for children and families in poor communities in and around León,
Our Fund Raising Swim is on Friday 15 July 2022, 4pm – 7 pm at our usual pool – Hinksey Heated Outdoor Pool, Lake Street, Oxford OX1 4RP. We are very grateful to Fusion and the staff at Hinksey Pool for their continued hospitality.
This is our most important fund raising event of the year, for our twin city of León, so do please come along to swim and support the fund raising, and get any friends involved and have some fun! We really need you! Nicaragua needs our support and solidarity more than ever.
Please see the poster below. You can register online at:
https://tinyurl.com/Leonswim2022
The next meeting of the Oxford León Association is on Monday 23 May at 3 pm, we are trying an afternoon meeting. You will be able to join us either in person at a private house or online via zoom.
For the real life address or zoom details email Jen Houston: Jen_Houston at hotmail dot com
The Oxford León Association is holding a fun
Quiz on Friday 25 March 8 pm
at West Oxford Community Centre, Botley Road, Oxford OX2 0BT.
The aim is to have fun with a Latin American flavour and raise funds for friends in need in our twin city of León – for Nuevas Esperanzas, which supports remote communities, supplies small farmers with water, agro-ecology and community projects and Nicaragua Education, Culture and Arts Trust (NECAT) which helps disadvantaged children with their education and provides community support to their families in a deprived area of the city.
Tickets are £10 per person, in teams of up to 6 people. You can buy tickets here:
Or, you can pay on the door – £10 pp – cash only please.
The Quiz Maestra will be our own Jan Marshall, who is writing the Quiz, and our MC will be the avuncular Mr John Tanner! DJ Christian will play Latin American music, there may even be the chance to display your Salsa, Tango or Samba moves! There will be a licensed cash bar serving wine, beer, soft drinks and Nicaraguan rum!
There will be a prize for the winning team of the Quiz! We will also have a raffle with three desirable prizes!
If you are unable to come to the Quiz but would like to make a contribution, and every contribution is valued, you will able to donate at JustGiving:
Oxford Leon Association – JustGiving
Dear Members and Supporters of OLAT
We hope you are all keeping safe and well in these unusual times, as we move into autumn and winter. We have had 10 meetings on Zoom, but for the
Annual General Meeting of the Oxford León Association on Thursday 4 November, at 7.30 we will be meeting in person at the Town Hall, but also online via Zoom for those who cannot get to the Town Hall. This will be our first “hybrid” meeting and we hope those online will feel part of the meeting, all are welcome.
We will be looking at how the year has gone, projects for the coming year, how to mark OLAT’s 35th Anniversary, and election of officers. We will also review the OLAT Constitution, which is attached, as well as the Agenda and last AGM minutes.
Stay safe and well and stay connected!
Best wishes
Jen Houston Secretary OLAT
Dear Swimmers and Supporters of Oxford León Association and Trust
As many of you know, OLAT has been holding a Sponsored Swim for over thirty years, to raise much needed funds for our twin city of León and support our charities Nuevas Esperanzas and Nicaragua Education, Culture and Arts Trust (NECAT). Nuevas Esperanzas works with families around the Telica volcano near Leon on water and agroecology projects including rainwater harvesting, beekeeping and introducing new crops such as dragon fruit, after their crops were devastated in the hurricanes. NECAT provides education and support to impoverished families in a suburb of León.
Last year was the first year that we couldn’t hold the Sponsored Swim. As this year is our 35th Anniversary year we decided that we couldn’t not hold it again this year, so we would try a different way and hold the Sponsored Swim online! It is a pity that we can’t be together at the Hinksey Pool, but we can be creative and swim anywhere, and anytime during July! Maybe you have increased your fitness in lockdown, or maybe your swimming has become a bit rusty – just enjoy yourself and pick your surroundings – maybe wild water swimming, or a spa! Any amount that we raise will help, in this very difficult year.
Please register with JustGiving and link your account to the OLAT Sponsored Swim page, by adding the event to your page:
Sponsored Swim for León in our 35th Year! – JustGiving
Enjoy your swim, anytime, anywhere during July, then please circulate your JustGiving account to your friends to donate! Nicaragua needs our support and solidarity more than ever! Keep safe and we hope to see you in person next year! It would be interesting if people could let me know where they swim and I will let people know how many diverse locations we achieve!
Thank you for your continuing support for Oxford’s furthest away twin! Especially to those who have already been generous this year in supporting the Quizzes, it is much appreciated.
Best wishes
Jenny Houston Secretary OLAT
Oxford León Association 